Madonna news - May 2006

14 May - Confessions tourbook cover revealedThe official Confessionstour website has premiered the artwork of Madonna's Confessions Tourbook. This fabulous new photographic tribute, designed by Giovanni Bianco, contains pictures from Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor album as well as Madonna and Steven Klein's latest photoshoot. The Confessions Tourbook will be available on merch stands from May 21.

14 May - Madonna poses for provocative photos Madonna's multiple personalities collide in the June issue of American magazine W, which features a 58-page photo spread of the singer in provocative poses. The Hung Up singer dresses up as some of her famous alter-egos, including an English horse-rider, "material girl" and "boy toy". Images include her posing topless wearing fishnet stockings, long leather gloves and holding a riding crop, and cavorting with horses on the sand.

The 47-year-old singer was joined by six stallions on a Hollywood sound stage for the shoot with photographer Steven Klein, their second collaboration for the magazine. The singer appears on the cover in her riding gear, less than a year after breaking multiple bones when she was thrown from a horse on her 47th birthday. The magazine will be on US newsstands on May 19. (source: IOL)

11 May - Gaultier's costume sketches French website Liberation has published two costume sketches by Jean-Paul Gaultier. You can see them and read some show spoilers on our Tour Spoiler page.

11 May - Get Together is Donna's Smaakmaker Early today we reported about the contests run by Radio Donna. Seems next week, we'll be hearing Madonna a lot at that radio station, because they announced that Get Together will be the new Smaakmaker (Taste of the Week), which means it'll be played once in every program, starting tomorrow evening till next week friday.

11 May - Minor changes for IMGTTYAS CD/DVD release From MadonnaTribe: "Warner has updated their info about the forthcoming release of I'm Going To Tell You A Secret with some minor changes. Everything remains the same in the contents: the documentary movie will be released as a DVD with extra features - including the director's cut of the American Life video by Jonas Akerlund, coming with a CD featuring tracks from the movie. Interestingly, the order of the selection has changed and I Love New York is now found at the end of the list - with the songs from the re-Invention tour now following almost the same order of the concert's setlist.

The release date has also been moved to June 20, I'm Going To Tell You A Secret will still be released as a combo set, but it now appears as a CX release (CD+DVD) coming in a smartpack and priced 29.98 $ and as a digital music download only. Apparently the previously listed DX release - DVD+CD in a standard amaray case with the same content of the CX release - will not be available anymore."

11 May - Sorry video featured in Xbox game Picture: A scene from the game 'Lumines Live' for the Xbox 360 system featuring music by singer Madonna (pictured within the game) is shown to the audience at the Microsoft Xbox 360 2006 E3 media event in Hollywood May 9, 2006. Microsoft officials announced plans for enhancements to the Xbox 360 system. (source: Reuters)

11 May - Sheree wants to crib Madonna's house Sheree Murphy, the glamous host of the new series of Footballers' Cribs has revealed there's one celebrity home she'd like to visit. "I'd love to nose round Madonna's house," she told mtv.co.uk in an exclusive interview. "I bet her house is immaculate – she's got chefs. I'd love one, but I don't think my husband would let me."

She also said she has so many accessories at home she needs an extension. "I love my handbag and shoe room," she says. "I've actually had it fitted out and it looks like a shop. Before that, I didn't have anywhere to put them and I used to forget what I've got!" You can see the lovely Sheree in action when the new series of Footballers' Cribs kicks off on MTV on Sunday, May 21. In it, she shows you round the houses of World Cup stars including Lionel Scaloni, Olivier Dacourt and Stelios Giannakopoulos. (source: MTV UK)

11 May - Win NYC tickets with Radio Donna Belgian Radio Donna is holding a competition to win tickets to Madonna's show in Madison Square Garden, New York City on wednesday June 28. Belgian fans should listen to Donna every day, starting May 22nd to win a trip to The Big Apple. The winner not only gets to see the show at Madison Square Garden, but will also be pampered for three days. How to participate? Leen, who presents the morning show, will present every day between 6 and 9am the Madonna song of the day. As soon as you hear this song during the rest of the day, send a text message with 'Madonna' to shortcode 3233. On friday there'll be a final to pick the winner. Starting friday May 26 you can also win a copy of Madonna's new DVD-CD I'm Going To Tell You A Secret. Good luck to everyone participating!

10 May - Get Together single cover revealed Warner has revealed the single cover for the new single Get Together. Contrary to many of Madonna's singles, this cover doesn't feature a close-up of Madonna, but instead a group picture of her with her musicians and dancers. No better way to symbole the way to 'get together'! Cover design is again by Giovanni Bianco, who used the same disco ball concept as for Hung Up and Sorry, though a slightly different font.

09 May - Madonna fears to be crap mother Madonna has confessed she is a "crap mother" whose career has put huge pressure n her family life. The Queen of Pop said she finds it difficult to juggle work and home life - and often feels torn between the two. "It is a struggle to balance my career with my children," she said. "I'm always going, 'Oh God, I'm a crap mother'. I want to get home and put my kids to bed. "And then sometimes, if I'm spending a lot of time with my children, I think, 'Oh God, I just want to be an artist'. And you know, it's hard."

She went on: "I have a tremendous pain threshold. I work with a lot of amazing people willing to put in he extra hours, seven days a week. "I guess I always feel like there is so much more to do, so much to learn, so much to know." Madge, 47, made the astonishing admission to fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. In a frank interview, she revealed her daughter Lourdes, nine, often gets frustrated by her fame.

She said: "Sometimes she doesn't want me to come to certain things because she knows everyone is going to pay attention to me and then they'll treat her differently. "I took her to school on the first day last year, and all these kids were buzzing around. "She came home that day and she was really irritated and kind of bummed out, like people were playing this contest - what would it be like to be Madonna's daughter?"

The multi-millionaire singer, who also has a son Rocco, five, said her daughter was old beyond her years. "She's nine going on 19. She's a bit of disco queen herself," added Madonna, who has been battling marriage problems with film director husband Guy Ritchie, 37. There were fears Madge's working relationship with record producer Stuart Price, 26, was putting pressure on her five-year marriage.

Guy's father John then claimed only the couple's children were keeping them together. Madonna's interview on ISAAC is on E! Entertainment Television on Wednesday, May 17 at 12.30pm. (source: Daily Mirror)

09 May - Final New York date added Ticketmaster has added the 6th and final date for Madison Square Garden, New York City. The show will take place on July 19; ticket presale will start today, May 9th at 9am local time. General sale on May 15th at 9am local time. This is considered to be the final US date to be added.

08 May - Tour stops in Prague, Moscow, Tokyo & Osaka We have received word that the Confessions Tour might still be extended with shows in Prague, Moscow, Tokyo and Osaka in september. These cities were rumoured long time ago and although some sources considered them cancelled, it seems the arrangements might have gotten through after all. These are the tentative dates: 6 & 7 sept.: Prague (Czech Republic) 9 & 10 sept.: Moscow (Russia)13, 14 & 16 sept.: Bodokun Arena, Tokyo (Japan)23 & 24 sept.: The Dome, Osaka (Japan) Details will follow soon. No word about other countries added to the tour schedule. (sources: Mr.T, MTribe forum, Icon forum) ~ Please note that the dates haven't yet been confirmed on the official Confessions Tour website.

08 May - A circle around three families Madonna is releasing her Jonas Åkerlund-directed documentary I'm Going to Tell You a Secret as a DVD/CD package June 20, according to Warner Bros. "It's sort of a circle around three families: the family of the people I work with, the family that I live with, and the family of man, the world that I live in," Madonna said. "It's about the trials and tribulations of putting a show together, the struggle to balance my life as an entertainer with my life as a mother, and it's also about the world, my politics, my belief systems, my philosophy, about where I feel my place in the world is." The DVD version of the documentary will contain never-before-seen footage not included in the televised version, as well as the director's cut of American Life, while the CD will contain songs from the film and concert, including I Love New York, The Beast Within and a cover of John Lennon's Imagine. (source: MTV)

08 May - Madonna tour set for record £100m Madonna's forthcoming world tour is set to be the most lucrative series of shows ever staged by a female performer, despite being scheduled around her children's school holidays and, much to the annoyance of some fans, is due to visit only 11 countries. The Confessions tour, which includes 54 dates in three months, is about half the size of global tours mounted by bands such as U2 and the Rolling Stones. But music industry experts believe that Madonna's tour, which starts in Los Angeles at the end of this month, will earn more than £100 million and see her topple Cher - whose recent two-year tour made £90 million - as the female artist whose tour raises the largest amount of money.

Madonna's shows are expected to earn more because of high ticket prices - British fans will pay between £80 and £170 - and restricted appearances, to keep down touring costs. Aside from two dates in Japan, the tour will be confined to America and Europe. The strategy has provoked criticism, not least from Australian fans, who believe that they have been unfairly excluded. Such complaints, however, have failed to dampen the enthusiasm of fans elsewhere. In the first four days of ticket sales, the singer sold out 28 shows - in New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. (source: Daily Telegraph)

08 May - Brother Christopher talks about Madonna's marriage AS she puts the finishing touches to her upcoming world tour, Madonna Louise Ciccone is - as usual - making sure she gets exactly what she wants. Now 47, the Queen of Pop has the body of a woman half her age, global adoration and enough money to buy her own country, so it's no surprise that she is used to calling the shots. She can get the Los Angeles Police Department to seal off streets, make hairdressers drop all other celebrity clients at a moment's notice, and have the odd half of bitter flown over to California whenever she fancies it.

But there is one area of life that all-powerful Madonna just can't control - her marriage to British film director Guy Ritchie. Rumours of fierce rows indicating that their five-year marriage was on the rocks were compounded last month when her father-in-law, John Ritchie, said they were only staying together for the sake of the children - Lourdes, nine, and Rocco, five. Now Madonna's brother, 46-year-old Christopher Ciccone, adds more fuel to the fire in an exclusive interview with the Mirror.

Talking about the pressure that must come with being married to his famous sister, Christopher says: "You can't really prepare yourself for it. I mean, I don't know how a person prepares himself for that. "I was there from the beginning so it was no big surprise for me. But if you're not around for the evolution of it, for what it becomes and how intense it can get, it can be surprising. It just takes getting used to - it's as simple as that."

Christopher, who designed the sets for her Blond Ambition and Girlie Show tours, knows how tough it is to be viewed as "Mr Madonna". He also has first-hand experience of how the strain of living with her remarkable fame can harm those closest to her. He was horrified when she accidentally "outed" him in an interview. Although they have since made it up, he has refused to work so closely with her again. "I would say Guy has managed to cope," adds Christopher. "They're still together. He's famous himself on a different level and in a different field."

It is no secret that the Ritchies' marriage has been stormy from the start. Madonna herself has said: "There is a lot of fire. When I first met him I couldn't believe I had met someone as strong-willed as I was. "Guy has a very forceful personality with very specific likes and dislikes. He doesn't back down one iota if it's something we disagree on." Guy, 37, is clearly not one to sit around in the shadow of his far more successful wife. But as his own career has stalled since his last hit movie, Snatch, that is increasingly what he finds himself doing.

The first indication that all was not well came earlier this year. The Mirror revealed how Madonna's close working relationship with record producer Stuart Price had opened up cracks in her marriage. She was spending an increasing amount of time with 26-year-old Price, who masterminded her disco album Confessions On A Dancefloor. A week later, she and Guy tried to stage a show of unity when they attended the Brits, but their stilted body language spoke volumes.

The couple spent just 30 minutes at the event in London's Earls Court. Embarrassingly, when Madonna stood to collect her award, Guy went to kiss her - and missed. A month later, they relocated to Los Angeles in preparation for Madonna's world tour, where they were pictured leaving a Kabbalah centre looking sullen and miserable. Madonna has even felt forced to put on a show of marital solidarity at rehearsals. Just last week, the Mirror can reveal, she ordered her dancers to "call me Mrs R". Embarrassingly, few have obliged.

While Madonna currently puts in long days perfecting her routines - determined to appeal to a new "cooler" and younger audience while still retaining the loyal fans from her 80s heyday - Guy has been left hanging about, feeling bored and resentful. A source in LA reveals: "Madonna is pushing herself to the limit on this tour. It gets harder and harder every year to stay at the top and she won't let herself slip, whatever it takes. But the downside is that everything is just revolving around her work. When Madonna focuses on her music, her marriage starts to slip.

"Guy is just hanging out with the kids, doing his own thing. He does turn up now and then to see her, but he's not at her beck and call.

Often she'll want Guy to watch something or comment on a new look, but he doesn't even bother to show. "She's got control over absolutely everything on this tour - from what the roadies eat to what power wattage we use. "But she doesn't have the control over her husband that she wants." Even so, retired advertising boss John Ritchie is optimistic that being in LA will help his son and daughterin - law sort out their differences.

He says: "It's easier out there because there is less pressure. They seem to have left the bumps they were having in Britain behind them. You can never know that things will work, but they do seem to be fitting into each other more. "They have put everything behind them and gone to LA to enjoy themselves. They're able to go home at night and be together. "They both want to see the children. It's the children that will keep them together. The children are everything to them."

Yet Guy has ruled out a permanent move to LA, fearing that he would be swallowed up by his wife's fame. One source says: "Guy has insisted right from the outset that they keep their main base in England. It is his home country and it is one of the few things he has over her. "She's no fool. She knows how important this is to him and she's been prepared to make the sacrifice because moving to LA full-time would be the death knell for him. "He needs to be in Britain with his circle of friends. He likes the pub, he likes hunting, shooting, fishing and being in the countryside. Guy just couldn't survive for long in Los Angeles." Guy is not the only one in Madonna's inner sanctum who is no longer enthralled by every little detail of her career.

Christopher Ciccone admits: "I don't listen to my sister's music really. I've just heard it too much. "There are certain songs that I really like, such as Like A Prayer, and the Erotica album was a great record - probably her best, in my opinion. Confessions is a more joyful, a little happier - like she's lightened up a bit."

Through Madonna, Christopher was drawn into the Kabbalah religion, but he has since become disenchanted with the faith - a mystical branch of Judaism. He says: "She took me to her house and all of the teachers were there and I just listened. "There are some really good things in it. You have to take it and make it your own, the same as being a Catholic, make it whatever works. But anything that's organised can become very cultish. It got that way for me, so for a long time I sort of stopped. "With all the celebrities involved, it takes something that's actually kind of cool and really useful and makes it appear foolish, stupid and faddish -- and it's not.

"But when you read about Britney Spears investigating it, it becomes so..." Surprisingly, their father Tony - a devout Catholic - didn't turn a hair when told about Madonna's obsession with Kabbalah. But then it seems he gave up battling his strong-willed daughter a long time ago. Christopher says: "I think my father did what only the father of Madonna could do and that's just let it slide off and carry on. It could make a person crazy, but he just makes his wine and he's a happy guy." There's a lesson there for Guy, if he wants his marriage to survive. (source: The Mirror) 07 May - Interview with tour choreographers Tony & Richmond Confessiontour.com: Hi Talauega Brothers! You are the first interviews of the new confessionstour website. On behalf of all Madonna fans we welcome you and thank you! You are new to the Madonna team and we can't wait to get to know you. When did you first start dancing? What was your first choreography job? Richmond: Well in general I first started dancing when I was really young, about 8 or 9 years of age. I use to watch my older bros. and tone and I would mimic them. But as years passed I took it more serious. When I got into high school I helped form a dance group (Housin' Authority) back in my hometown of Richmond ,CA. We did shows locally and made a name for ourselves. But my first professional dance gig was for Tevin Campbell. I was 16 at the time. Tony: Our first choreography job was for TLC for the 1996 Grammy awards

Madonna has always been known for her dance music and for her dance moves. When was the first time you heard a Madonna song? Have you ever danced to one of her songs before? Was it in a club or on a job? Richmond: The first time I heard a Madonna song was on Friday night videos back in the day. Back then cable wasn't so common as it is now. So I would stay up every friday night to watch videos. Tony: Yes, I definitely dance to madonna songs especially in the clubs when they play my favorites like LUCKY STAR OR HOLIDAY!!!!!!!

As your stage name states, you are brothers. Which one of you is older? What is your experience like when you choreograph a dance together? Do you always agree on what is best? Richmond: The oldest is me Tony: The experience when we choreograph a dance together is a chaotic, involuntary one. What I mean by that is we both to a certain degree almost think alike so we would already know what the other is thinking about. But sometimes the choice of movement could make a situation difficult. Richmond Although we can go through disagreements at the end of the day, we would always agree what is best. That happens natural with time.

We can only assume that working with Madonna is working with the best in the business. It is rarely someone's first experience, but more something you have to work towards. What challenge did you have that best prepared you to work with Madonna? Did you have a job in the past that is comparable to this current job? Tony: What challenge that best prepared me to work for Madonna was probably working for Michael Jackson. There is a very high level of work ethic and professionalism you have to attain when you work for persons/people of this calibur. I think I was a quick learner when it came to work ethic, etc. You got to be when you're around people like that. I didn't have no job that was comparable to this one. Every job I do is different from the next. But this one is definitely the big leagues.

All of Madonna's fans are dying to know how the rehearsal process is going. We can only speculate what to expect, but still we are always surprised. How has the rehearsal process been so far? Do you think that Madonna fans are going to be surprised again? Can you give out even one small detail about the show? Richmond: The rehearsal process has been a rough one. It's not easy to choreograph a LEGENDARY ICON. But that is what makes it fun, it's a CHALLENGE. Madonna wouldn't be Madonna if she didn't surprise her fans again. I think it would be better to see the show live than to get a small detail of it from me.

In Truth or dare, we saw Madonna being like a mentor to her dancers and band. Does she still act this way? What is it like to work for Madonna? Tony: I think Madonna is even more of a mentor now than she was then. She's strong, independent, and successful at what she does. What more do you need in a person to look up to. So yeah, she still acts that way. To work for Madonna is unexplainable. Sometimes it can be very overwhelming. I'm like in a rehearsal room showing madonna some dance moves, how crazy is that!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is now the 7th world tour of Madonna's career. What have you learned from her about touring and putting on a show? Do you think that you will work differently in the future? Tony: What I've learned from Madonna about touring and putting on a show are 2 things. One is good ol' fashion hard work will always get the job done. And two is to utilize the arts and make it your own. Richmond: It is a definite that I will work differnetly in the future. It would be a waste if I didn't learn anything from this experience.

Tony & Richmond – Confessionstour.com wishes you all the luck in the world. We can't wait to see your moves this summer! And lastly, here are the same 4 questions we ask everyone: 1) What did you have for breakfast this morning? Richmond: I had a pirates green tea & a almond croissant. 2) What is your zodiac sign Richmond: I'm a sagitarius 3) Bath or Shower? Richmond: Shower 4) If you could change the world in one way, how would you? Richmond: I would spread TRUE knowledge & wisdom (source: ConfessionsTour.com)

06 May - Another tour documentary? British director Guy Ritchie is making another film with his wife Madonna - in their first collaboration since 2002's cinematic disaster Swept Away. The Snatch film-maker is planning to make a behind-the-scenes documentary of Madonna's Confessions tour, which kicks off in Los Angeles. A source says, "Things have been rocky between them of late, and they both feel this will give them something to concentrate on outside their relationship." (source: TeenMusic)

06 May - Madonna lyrics change shocks California All pop stars get bored of their own lyrics from time to time and change them during live performances. But few do it quite so dramatically and noticeably as Madonna did this week. During an appearance at California music festival Coachella, the Material Mum showed she still had her old, sassy stage presence and during an energetic rendition of her song I Love New York, Madonna roared: "Just go to Texas and suck George Bush's d**k." (source: Breaking News)

05 May - W Mag preview As any equestrian worth her jodhpurs can tell you, the relationship between a woman and her horse transcends the boundaries of sport. There's often lovesick devotion involved (witness the bedroom walls of many twelve-year-old girls, where photos of Arabians crowd out the boy-band posters) and at times even a touch of the erotic (Lady Godiva, anyone?). When the woman in question is Madonna, one can expect the dynamic to get even more complicated. All of this was made clear when the 47-year-old, an avid horsewoman, took to a Hollywood sound stage with six stallions and photographer Steven Klein. It had been seven months since the riding accident that left her with multiple fractures, but the resulting 58-page portfolio - which represents the pop icon's second collaboration with Klein for W - demonstrates that her passion for the species remains unchecked. Unafraid, leather-clad and in the best shape of her life, the material girl, whose Confessions tour kicks off in Los Angeles on May 21, was ready to take the reins.

05 May - Live video for Get Together Fansite MadonnaTribe has just heard news about the video that will accompany the commercial release of Madonna's third single, Get Together. Warner will probably put out a video with the recent live performances, or a video with clips from previous promos, but no new video will be shot. We also heard news about Jump, that will be the 4th single, but it won't be released commercially, only as a promo for radio, as we told you a while ago. Get Together will get it's radio play starting May 8th.

03 May - Madonna in 'W': Horsing around Madonna's multiple personalities collide in the upcoming issue of W magazine, on stands in New York Friday (nationwide on May 19). The singer's proper English horsewoman meets the sexy Material Girl and Boy Toy in a 58-page photo spread. The singer, 47, joined six stallions on a Hollywood soundstage for a shoot with photographer Steven Klein, their second collaboration for W. Just eight months ago, Madonna was injured when she was thrown from a horse.

Among the images: a topless Madonna in fishnet stockings, long leather gloves and riding crop; the singer dressed in black, cavorting with a horse on the sand; Madonna pulling a horse's tail. Madonna's Confessions tour kicks off May 21 in Los Angeles. (source: USA Today)

02 May - Get Together gets June release Dutch fansite MadonnaUnderground informed us that they got confirmation from Warner Music NL that the next single Get Together will indeed be released on Friday June 2 in the form of cd single, maxi cd single and a 12" in Holland. So we can assume the single will be released on June 2nd (Europe), 5th (UK) and 6th (US). Another Dutch fansite MadonnaNed reports that the video for Get Together will be finished by the beginning of May and transported to TV stations. Nothing yet confirmed whatever B-sides will be included, but the track will be submitted to Dutch radio playlists in May (no exact date known yet).

02 May - Madonna hits Staples Center A fourth Confessions Tour show was added for Los Angeles, California, but this time Madonna will play at Staples Center, not at The Forum on Saturday, June 3rd. Tickets will go on sale on www.ticketmaster.com at 10 am local time on Sunday May 7th. ~ The new addition rounds up the tour dates to 50.

01 May - Madonna thrills fans at music festival Madonna thrilled thousands of fans at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Sunday, even as she brought a mainstream feel to the traditionally edgy event. A swollen outdoor crowd erupted in cheers after the Material Girl made her entrance inside a glittering disco ball that split in two and launched into Hung Up for her opening number. She performed an abbreviated set of five songs in less than a half hour. Not everyone was excited to see the pop star at the musical extravaganza best known for its lineup of indie-rock bands and dance-oriented DJs. "I'm here for anything but Madonna," said Alessandra Ambrosio, a Brazilian model. "Madonna is too pop to be here."

More than 100,000 people came to the inland desert for two sold-out days of sun and sound. With 47 acts on Sunday's bill alone, fans had so many choices they had to miss some bands to catch others. Theresa Hioki, 20, sat next to her bother on a large expanse of grass, contemplating the rest of the day's music ahead of them. Sunday's lineup also included the up-and-coming Matisyahu, a Hasidic reggae and hip-hop artist. Hours before Madonna, the San Francisco-based Mates of State, a husband and wife duo, performed their unique blend of alt-pop drum and organ music.

Jason Hammel, a former cancer researcher, bounced in his seat as he beat his drums furiously, while his wife, Kori Gardner, a former school teacher, swayed in her red summer dress and played complex passages on her organ. The couple has grown from Oakland party gigs to receive a wave of attention for their smart, singable tunes. British chart favorite James Blunt drew a large crowds, playing to a wedged-in audience in the Mojave Tent. Near the tent openings, the crowd stood 20 deep to catch a glimpse of the singer as he crooned mellifluous tunes, capping his performance with the hit "You're Beautiful" from his album "Back to Bedlam." (source: AP/Yahoo)

01 May - Madonna makes festival debut Madonna has made her festival debut this evening (April 30) at Coachella. The singer played a six song set in the Sahara Dance Tent at the Californian bash. Arriving over 20 minutes late on stage, Madonna began with recent single Hung Up as it seemed nearly half of Coachella's festival goers crowded around the tent. Getting into the spirit of things, the singer joined her band on a flying-V guitar for two tracks, while robotic dancers wore stockings over their heads.

Madonna used her set to attack the US President, changing the lyrics of I Love New York to "Just go to Texas and you can suck George Bush's dick". She then joked with the crowd asking them "Do you wanna see my arse?", before concluding the set with her first ever single Everybody.

01 May - Madonna wows crushing crowd at Coachella Madonna is the queen of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. No doubt about it.

Madonna helped Coachella set a two-day attendance record Saturday and Sunday when at least 60,000 people a day crammed into the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

The demand was so great for Madonna, it took the crowd 30 minutes to inch their way across the field after her performance. Coincidentally, that was just how long her performance was.

The Queen of Pop started 25 minutes after her scheduled start time, emerging out of a disco ball with her ensemble of spacemen-like dancers in a black outfit and shades. After opening with her recent dance hit, Hung Up, which she sang to open this year's Academy Grammy Awards, she told the audience this was her first festival and 'give me some love.'

Madonna, 47, then sang songs from her most recent album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, with a throbbing, enhanced electronica beat. She played guitar on I Love New York. Then she asked the fans - perhaps 30,000 people including beer garden patrons and indie rock fans for The Editors at the next tent over - if they wanted her to do an old song.

Then she asked if she should take her pants off. "It's too hot to wear clothes," she teased. Then, stripping to her tights, she asked, "Does my ass look good?" knowing she is incredibly buff.

Then she sang an old song, One song. Everybody. She writhed around the floor a bit and then the concert was over.

There were people who didn't want to see Madonna at the alternative-oriented festival.

Fonzie Hernandez of Coachella wore a T-shirt he designed that said, 'Madonna killed Coachella.'

"She doesn't belong here," he said. "She's pop."

But even fans stuck in the glacial-like retreat from the Madonna set said it was worth it to see Madonna.

"I think it's awesome and incredible," said Kymberly Whitaker of La Quinta. "She'll probably never be here again in our little Coachella Valley."

Paul Tollett, founder of the Los Angeles-based Goldenvoice promoters, said the increase in attendance presented few challenges. Madonna was as easy to work with, he said, as the management for Tool and Depeche Mode.

"From the beginning," he said. "They wanted to fit it and not overpower the show."

Tool was the Coachella Stage headliner. Other top performers included the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Matisyahu and Paul Oakenfold. (source: The Desert Sun)